Many families have that one story they wish they'd never have to tell. I wish I didn't, but coronary artery disease and diabetes are common in my family, and this time it struck home. It started with a Congestive Heart Failure scare that placed Mom in the Fort Lauderdale, Florida, hospital while she was on vacation in 2011. Year after year, she did everything she could to stay well. We took her to routine doctor visits, and she tried to keep a better diet. She was recovering well.
On Friday, May 11, 2018, A typical day for my parents would be dad leaving for work at 4:00 a.m. or 5:00 a.m., and he would be away from home all day. Thankfully this was not the case that day. Dad stood in the kitchen preparing breakfast while Mom took her daily medications at the breakfast table. Mom started choking. Dad knows Mom struggles with a severe cough but turns around to ask if she is ok. Dad was terrified when he realized Mom had fallen and was lying face down on the floor, unresponsive for about 60 seconds.
Our cousins were visiting and ran over quickly to see how they could help. They picked her up and helped her back into the chair, holding her in place. Mom had no idea what happened. When she was a little more conscious, everyone asked how she felt, to which she replied, "I'm ok." Unfortunately, the fall resulted in a hematoma, so Dad rushed her to the Emergency room, where the doctor confirmed she had a heart attack. After several tests, the doctors admitted her for further testing and observations.
Mom stayed in the hospital for one week as the nurses administered different medications to help her. Mom also has diabetes, so she is a very fragile patient. After a couple of days of testing and observations, the doctor advised our family that mom needed triple bypass heart surgery, maybe even a quadruple which they couldn't confirm until after they started the procedure. She had 100% blockage in one artery, 80% in another, and 60% and 40% in the other two arteries. The doctor said she was a walking miracle. Considering her health history, it was uncertain if she could do the open-heart surgery, but the surgeon was confident he could help her. Our family lifted Mom in prayer, and we left the situation in God's hands as we moved forward with the surgery. After several days of preparation, finally, on May 22, 2018, at 8:00 a.m., it was time. Mom was having her surgery. After the surgery began, the surgeon advised that it would be a quadruple bypass, as it would be better for her and may extend her life.
Eight hours later, the surgery was a success. Mom was out and recovering in the ICU. Seeing my mother, my BEST friend in this state, broke my heart. Nonetheless, I was thankful that God worked through the hands of the doctors and that Mom had a new heart.
Twenty-Three days after her 66th birthday, on January 31, 2023, Mom lost her fight with the deadly disease. She tragically died from a massive heart attack, and we couldn't revive her. So, on November 11, 2023, we will join others and walk to honor our years with a beautiful wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, sister, aunt, friend, and all those families with a loved one struggling with coronary heart disease or stroke. We love and miss our loved ones and we will walk because we know that with every step, we are saving lives.
Giving brings joy to you and life to so many others. When you donate to my Heart Walk campaign, you get something back that's priceless - satisfaction knowing your donation helped fund research that could cure heart disease and stroke. We're all tied to heart disease and stroke in some way. We have to change that. Will you help me?
Your donation will fund groundbreaking research that keeps hearts beating and helps people have longer, healthier lives.
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With all my heart, I thank you! God Bless you!
